AN ACT
To require background checks for most gun sales and transfers.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Gun Sale and Transfer Safety Act of 2019”.
Section 2. Repealing old requirements
18 U.S.C. § 922 is amended by striking the existing contents of subsection (s) and inserting the following contents of Section 3 and Section 4 of this Act.
Section 3. New requirements
(a) In general.—
It shall be unlawful for any person who is not a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer to transfer a firearm to any other person who is not licensed, unless a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer has first taken possession of the firearm for the purpose of complying with subsection (t) of 18 U.S.C. § 922.
(b) Process.—
Upon taking possession of a firearm, a licensee shall comply with all requirements of 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44 (18 U.S.C. §§ 921-931) as if the licensee were transferring the firearm from the inventory of the licensee to the unlicensed transferee.
(c) Returns.—
If a transfer of a firearm will not be completed for any reason after a licensee takes possession of the firearm, the return of the firearm to the transferor by the licensee shall not constitute the transfer of a firearm for the purposes of this chapter.
Section 4. Exceptions
The requirements set in Section 3 shall not apply to—
(A) a transfer of a firearm that will be used for employment-related duties by a law enforcement officer, armed private security professional, or member of the armed forces;
(B) a temporary transfer of a firearm that is necessary to prevent harm to self, family, household members, or others from domestic violence, dating partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic abuse; or
(C) a temporary transfer of a firearm if the transferee’s possession of the firearm is exclusively—
(i) at a shooting range or in a shooting gallery or other area designated for the purpose of target shooting; or
(ii) in the presence of the transferor, who shall be partially responsible for all acts committed by the transferee with such firearm.
Section 5. Implementation
This Act shall take effect 30 days after passage.